As we approach two years of many people making the shift to working remotely, many people are now facing the decision to either return to the office or to continue working remotely. While weighing these options, people realize that they can thrive, be productive, have better time management, and perhaps enjoy a better quality of life while working remotely. As technology has boomed during this new “work from home” era, it has proved to be beneficial—virtual meetings throughout the week have helped keep people connected to their work responsibilities. Now that people have access to these technologies, many are finding that the independence and flexibility to work out of the office are valuable. They can travel, spend more meaningful time with their families, care for their pets, attend their kids’ school events, and even make appointments with greater ease.
Here are 5 of the many reasons working from home can make your life more enjoyable.
You Can Dictate Your Schedule and Free Time
Unlike when you work in an office, your remote office never has to close. You can catch up on work early in the morning or late at night and always have access to your workplace. Working during these off-hours can be highly productive as there are usually fewer interruptions from emails and calls. By spreading out your work hours throughout the day, there is flexibility for other hours to be used for other things like school drop/pick up, a lunch date with a friend, working out, a nap, or some meditation or reading time.
Being able to build in your family’s schedule and needs with your work schedule can make working from home feel like you have it all!
The Ability to Customize and Design Your Own Office Space
Working from home, your office is customizable to what works best for you! Just because you are working from home, that doesn’t mean you have to fill space in your home with a clunky desk, huge monitor, and an ugly rolling chair. You can fit your home office wherever it fits in your life. Want to convert part of your closet into a quiet and hidden workspace? Go for it! Or maybe you prefer an office space with access to a television or music. You can create an office with an ergonomic design while keeping your health at the forefront of your mind. You can even spend part of your workday at the local coffee shop with your laptop and earbuds while finishing it up on the comfort of your couch. The possibilities are truly endless.
Having the freedom to make your workspace your own and the option to move about while you work makes the workday more enjoyable.
Location Independence
As a work-from-home employee, you may have more freedom to move around and be anywhere you want! Gone are the days when you must live in the general location as your company. Working from home may offer the ability to live and work where is best for you and your family. If your company is in a colder climate—but you’d prefer to live where it’s warm—you may be able to opt to move while keeping your position. Or, instead of putting down permanent roots, you could travel the world while you work, while meeting your work responsibilities at the same time.
No Commute Stress and the Reinvestment of Commute Time
As you work from home, you won’t have to stress about the commute and all that it entails. Heavy traffic can be a burden that can set a negative mood for the day and create frustration as you head home at the day’s end.
The time spent in the car can often feel wasted. Instead, you can now reinvest this travel time in a variety of ways which could include starting your work earlier and finishing sooner, having breakfast/dinner with your family, or making regular school drop-off/pick-ups for your kids. Working during commuting hours can free up some time during your day to fit other non-work-related day-to-day responsibilities. You may decide to get an early morning workout in or enjoy a bit more sleep before getting the day started—either way, you can always find ways to be more productive, using this extra time on things that make your day flow better.
Better Work-Life Balance
Working from home affords you the ability to consider both your work needs and your family needs and makes it easier to meet them both with less stress. For some, just being home and “present” is enough to meet the feeling that you are spending more time with your family. Breaks throughout the day can allow you to help kids with things they need or engage in activities with them so that they feel like they have enough of your attention. Being able to help a spouse or partner in household chores can reduce the load at the end of the day and make for more time to fulfill family obligations or appointments as they arise. Pets also appreciate the extra time with a parent working from home.
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While certain parts of your day are focused on work, finding the balance between the two can help you feel more successful in both areas. With a good balance of work and family life, it’s easy to keep a smile on your face!
“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” –Dale Carnegie
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